Govt plans cleaner battery technology for easybikes

The government has taken an initiative to replace conventional lead-acid batteries in easybikes with lithium-ion batteries to reduce environmental pollution, improve electricity efficiency State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit said on Friday.
He made the remarks while addressing the biennial conference of the Jashore district branch of the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) at the CCTS conference room in Jashore around 11:30am.
The state minister said easybikes could travel 80–100 kilometres on a single charge using lithium-ion batteries, potentially increasing drivers’ daily income by around Tk200.
Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO) has launched a pilot project in Uttarkhan in the capital to assess the practical benefits and potential of the technology, he said. The government plans to expand its use in phases based on the pilot project's findings, Amit added.
He said easybikes have become an important part of urban and suburban transport, particularly for short-distance passenger and goods movement. However, battery performance, charging costs and maintenance remained major concerns for drivers.
Replacing lead-acid batteries with lithium-ion alternatives could improve energy efficiency, reduce pollution and allow drivers to cover longer distances during working hours, he said.
Speaking about coal-based power generation, Amit said the government was exploring the possibility of using domestic underground coal instead of relying on imported coal.
He said extraction costs, technical capacity, energy security and environmental impacts would be considered in assessing the feasibility of using domestic coal, stressing the need to balance power generation with environmental protection.
BAPA Central Joint General Secretary Khandaker Azizul Haque Moni chaired the conference. BAPA central committee urban planner Iqbal Ahmed, Jashore District Council Administrator Delwar Hossain Khokon and Jashore district BNP President Saberul Haque Sabu, among others, also spoke at the event.